Do Military (Army/AF) and Naval (Navy/MC) Officers View Regulations Differently?

2015-06-03T09:21:35-04:00

Historically, ships operated in tactical isolation, thus embuing ships' Captains with absolute authority. How has this led to services' different views of policy from "higher authority"?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 9:40 AM

2015-06-03T09:40:24-04:00

Regulations have always been viewed with different interpretations. I believe it is branch immaterial.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jun 3 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-06-03T10:53:10-04:00

Having served in a three joint assignments, including one in Naples, Italy (predominantly Navy), one in Korea and one in USCENTCOM/McDill AFB, and having worked for officers of other services and had officers of other services work for me, I can say, with authority, that, yes, there is a difference. That difference stems from the command climate and traditions of the individual services, with the Army and Marine Corps more or less the same and the Navy and Air Force marching to their own drummers.

I will not attempt to state which service has it right. That is a matter of opinion and mine is just one of many. I guess it is right for that service, although, from my experience, the Navy and, particularly the Air Force, seem to be much more permissive than the Army and Marine Corps when it comes to enforcing regulations. Just my opinion, based on my personal observations.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 3 at 2015 11:25 AM

2015-06-03T11:25:14-04:00

While different services may have underlying cultural practices, I still think it's really more of the personality of the person in charge. A Naval officer who is a stickler for the rules is still going to be a stickler for the rules. An Army officer who is a spirit of the rules guy is still going to be a spirit of the rules guy.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 3 at 2015 11:31 AM

2015-06-03T11:31:18-04:00

I would say possibly as recently as Vietnam, but that has quickly gone away given the instant communications capabilities and truly centralized command and control Combatant Commanders now have that just didn't exist before.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 5:09 PM

2015-06-10T17:09:39-04:00

Yes. It is civilians who maintain the rooms.